Architectural group Archial bought from administrators
ARCHITECTURAL giant Archial, which has an office in Manchester and recently went into administration, has been bought by Canada-based multi-disciplinary outfit Ingenium.
Archial, which is one of the UK’s best known practices, is an international architectural specialist with public and private-sector clients.
Ingenium has acquired the majority of Archial’s UK business and assets from the administrators of Archial Group and several subsidiaries, including Alsop Sparch.
David Chubb and Graham Frost were appointed joint administrators of Archial last week after shares were suspended on the Alternative Investment Market.
The move was made to protect the group’s business and assets after it had difficulties in meeting the group’s financial obligations.
Victor Smith, president and chief executive of the Ingenium Group, said: “The purchase of Archial is in line with our corporate strategy of focused and measured expansion around the globe.
“We have been seeking a UK company to form the regional base for our international work and are delighted that Archial will serve to realise that goal for our company.”
Archial employs approximately 300 people in offices throughout England and Scotland. The newly acquired organisation has been registered as Ingenium Archial and will operate under the name of Archial and Alsop Sparch. Christopher Littlemore will continue as chief executive and Victor Smith will take on the role of executive chairman.
Archial’s UK offices include London, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester. Sparch offices include Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Toronto and Shanghai.
Ingenium, which employs 600 people, offers a range of architectural, engineering, land use and development planning, interior design, project management, construction, design-build and partnership services through 14 offices in Canada, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia.
